“Of course, we need our own observers,” the head of Putin’s elections headquarters, film director Stanislav Govorukhin told Izvestia daily. “As if violations can be expected only from candidate Putin’s side. There were violations from both sides at previous elections. So if they watch us, we must watch them,” he stated.

The election headquarters did not say when exactly the staff of monitors will be created. “But it is clear that it should be done pretty soon,” the HQ told the paper.

One of the options is getting the All-Russian Popular Front movement involved in the process.

“The Popular Front’s potential is just enormous,” believes State Duma deputy and Putin supporter Vyacheslav Lysakov. “There are a lot of organizations among its members that could join efforts to organize election monitoring.”

Alternatively, a non-political organization could help out, the HQ says. The youth wing of Russia’s Association of Lawyers has already voiced its readiness to provide observers.